Well, i've taken the plunge...

I have decided to place an order today, i've been waiting to do so since November 2007 and the price was surprisingly good so...
Spec's :-
Display: 17" WideUXGA 1920 x 1200 LCD with Clearview Technology – Black
System Lighting: Alienware® AlienFX® System Lighting - Lime
Operating System: Genuine Windows® Vista Ultimate - English
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme X9000 2.8GHz (6MB Cache 800MHz FSB)
Graphics Processor : Dual 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8800M GTX – SLI Enabled
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 2048MB
System Drive: Extreme Performance - RAID 0 - 500GB 7200 RPM SATA (2 x 250GB)
CD/DVD/RW: 2x Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc Reader (BD-ROM, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
Turbo Cache Memory: None
Smart Bay: 500GB 5,400RPM (8MB Cache) Smart Bay
Sound Hardware: External Creative X-Fi Xtreme Audio Card
Keypad: Alienware® Customizable AlienFX® Keyboard with Numeric Pad - English
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® Wireless 4965 a/b/g/Draft-N Mini-Card
Warranty: AlienCare 1-Year Free Phone 24/7 and Collect & Return
AlienContact: Added Bonus with any AlienSupport Selection
AlienContact - Remote Alienware Support
AlienRespawn: AlienRespawn v2.0 Recovery DVD – Windows Vista Edition
Productivity Software: Microsoft® Office 2007 Small Business - English
Alienware Gear: Alienware® Ceramic Mug - Black

I know i could have bought and fitted my own RAM but, to be honest i couldn't be bothered with the waiting, i'd rather have it delivered and be able to use it straight away. I haven't bothered with a blu-ray burner as i'm not going to use it, so went for the reader so i can watch films lol

Hopefully it will arrive soon-ish (i'm about to PM Armando as i'm still in phase 2 and they've taken the money from my credit card...) When i get my new baby i'll do the usual photo's and review (",)

I can't wait to get a decent notebook...

OB

 

Good to read, OB! I know you've been contemplating for a while. Keep us up-to-date and feel free to contact Armando and I if you have any questions.

 

Thanks James, i've sent Armando a PM regarding the phase page, seems it's a bit.....Slow?

I'll keep you guys informed (",)

OB

 

congrats oodle I know you've been waiting for a long time!!

 

Gratz Oodle. Enjoy your system, And get us some pics. We still haven't seen a lot of detailed pics of the M17x yet.

Enjoy

 

Cheers guys, as soon as i get it i'll take some pictures and do a review, might be the first Uk m17x... Hopefully it will be a great machine?

Just the waiting game now..... gee, what fun.... (",)

OB

 

I don't doubt it will be a great machine. You could order the ram ahead of time from newegg (I did it was here a week earlier than the aw) much cheaper

 

I definitely do wanna see pics once you do receive it. What games do you plan on playing in it? If not just games, what other uses do you have for it?

I considered an Alienware, but I didn't like how they wouldn't offer XP with the M17x. I won't consider playing games on Vista, as it has too many problems even after being out for a while now. XP is more stable and offers next to no problems with any games out there today.

I definitely do hope you like it man, keep us updated.

 

Well i will use it for surfing and maybe some work (it will be faster than my work one for when i'm working at home lol) but i mainly got it for gaming.

I want to play TES4 Oblivion but use everything on full, which requires a good graphics card, Crysis, because i like fps games (started on Doom), Mass effect, Starcraft II (when released), might try Diablo3 when it's out too...

I'll see what get's good reviews but those are a few i want to be able to play on full.... Hopefully i will ba able to lol

OB

 

I can tell you already that you'll be able to run Oblivion with all settings maxed.

As crazy as it sounds by today's standards, Oblivion isn't that taxing on most systems that come out TODAY.

Back then it certainly did tax systems. But now even laptop technology is current enough to be able to play that game without it being too hard on the hardware.

You should be getting 60+ fps easily with your current setup.

If it matters, I currently started playing Oblivion again a week ago and started a mage, it's really fun to get into it again. I specifically spent $3,000 back in March 2006 just so I'd be able to play Oblivion the way it was meant to be played.

Sure it looked great then, it looks even better on my current rig. I'm sure it'll look fantastic on yours.

btw, full max all settings with HDR on at 1680x1050 (22 inch widescreen) resolution on my desktop rig.

 

Yeah, that's quite normal. I purchased my m15x about a month ago and it still says I'm on phase 2 (when I know I'm really on phase 5.) Just call in if you want to know your real order status.

 

Armando told me it takes two working days for the system to be updated, although they had the money yesterday morning so that could count as day 1... I'll see on Monday...

The waiting is already killing me... ho hum (",)

The oder status sheet said 11 - 15 days for delivery but, i'm wondering how long it will take to be built... assuming they have all the parts?

OB

 

The part of what color it would be is a joke to you. You can change your laptop color lighting your self they look great.

But Thumbs up on the laptop. It a power house.

Mine I get 2 hours battery life and buying a battery backup smartbay soon. So I would get more battery life. I wonder if clevo can do that.

The only problem I had was a bad keyboard one key pop off. Which is a easy fix.

The case is great it not like the m15X

The sound system is great for a laptop.

Not the 8794 Clevo laptop I had a few years ago.

 

I just rang Alienware and it seems payment has now been confirmed and i'm i nthe queue for production so i'm in :-
Phase 3: (Payment Processed)
Payment has been received and the order is now in queue for production.

Guess i now have the joy of waiting i guess?

Ho hum (",)

OB

 

GRATS Oodle !!!!
I'm happy you finally ordered your 'space station'
Hope everything works out for you & that it'll rival Darth Vader's Death Star
All the best with the rest.. 'Ho Hum (",)' !!
L8rs

 

Congrats Oodle, Very pleased with my M17X so far. Solid, no downclocking or overheating.. Similar specs as yours.

 

Oodle will probably be the only one to stick to his word to write the first review lmao, hate those threads that say they will write one and get my hopes up so badly

 

Thanks for the vote of convidence Mix... (",)

I'm at phase 3 intheory and they still haven't given me an estimated completion date? Is this normal?

Anyway, i've decided to use my 4mp digital camera on small size to take photo's, it will keep the file size down, hopefully?

I know it wil take about a month but...... I want it now.....

(Sorry, bit impatient there... (",)

OB

 

I hear ya Oodle-Bear. I had just ordered my m17x as well and I am constantly checking the phase page for updates.

Sometimes I wish they didn't have that progress page because I feel like I am trying to watch water boil....(on low heat). It's driving me craaazyy!

 

ok - in size though (and taking the issues the 15 has/had out of the equation) why did you guys get the 17 vice the 15?
i mean, i have put the 17 specs on paper as well as the 15 and the thing just seems very large....
are you guys going to be porting it from place to place often?

 

I got it mostly for the sheer power of the system. I want it to last for at least 3 years. It will basically be my gaming system as my current laptop (xps m1210) is more for travel/portability.

That and it's a completely sexy laptop.

 

have to agree there....

 

yup i got the laptop as a desktop replacement... the computer i had in the US is a bit too big to carry around and well the m17x was just perfect. so far from what i have seen its a very strong build seems to be lasting....as many have said a light flex in the keyboard but manageable and the screen does not wobble (very slightly if any) and well im loving it hopefully soon ill be upgrading my laptop's GPU from the 8700 to whatever will be the newest in about 3 months well i should have my review up later on today just got all the pics and videos done will be writing it soon

 

Well I will go from the 8600 to the highest end soon. There still in the test stage for the 9000 setup.

 

For me it's simple. I want everything a desktop can do, without the need for seperate screen, Pc, keyboard, basically a desktop replacement.

The m17x is such a thing, the 17" screen is also nicer for watching blu-ray movies on and for gaming. My old Dell had a 15.4" 1920x1200 screen which was very good but a little small for gaming...

Apart from that the m27x looks cool, i've not seen any other notebook that looks a nice, apart from the m15x which is a given lol

I won't moving it out of my house very often, if at all so it being big isn't a problem. It does meen that i can play games in the living room or upstairs laying on the bed etc.

It's just nice...

OB

P.S. I want mine now please.....

 

Congratulations! Wow that is a beastly system. Pictures/benchmarks are always welcome.

 

off topic, Chaz why not a new Sager and why an HP etc

Just interested in your feedback

 

Mixmastam,
i wrote a short review of my M17X and so did several others. Check "My MX17 has Arrived thread"

 

Lol I'll do my best

By the way, when are you getting a review unit?

OB

 

I was at Phase 3 last night, this morning i'm at Phase 4..... (",)

OB

 

can not wait OB....

a bit off topic....hows it like in Whitby? have you been there?

 

Lol just a bit (",)

I can't wait either... seems to be ages since last Friday when i p[laced the order, even though it's only a few days lol

Whitby's a nice town. Went there for a holiday, staying just outside near the abbey. Lots of steps but it's a great place, peaceful and lots of shops lol

OB

 

sounds like my area there Oodle-Bear. Only problem we have is black bears.

 

Well, i have been in phase 4 since Tuesday when payment was confirmed, I just rang the tech-support people and i'm still in phase 4, so it seems the phase page wasn't wrong lol

I also now have my predicted completion date, 6th August 2008 so in two weeks Wednesday i should be taking delivery of my very own m17x.

OB

 

thats good right?

 

Yup, it means it will take two weeks formy m17x to be built. It takes Dell 1 week to build a pc and they are not tested etc...

On the slightly down side, it will be the longest two weeks ever... ho hum

At least i've got a date now yay

OB

 

I'm excited for you. I think I'm going to wait until I see your review (esp. since the Sagers aren't shipping until early August and Apple indicated they may be dropping prices) to fully decide what I want to do, but definitely leaning towards the m17x.

 

I rang Alienware CS today and spoke to Shaun, who is very helpful.

I asked about by order status and was told that there was a slight delay, because the smart-bay drives were being tested and validated but that my order should be moving into production by Monday. I should get an email confirming this and my new estimated shipping date... I'm guessing week commencing 11th August. So now looks like 3 weeks but, i'd rather they tested things than fit them and hope so...

Ho hum, more waiting...

OB

 

I wonder if anyone buys the "quick ship" edition of the m17x.

 

I guess buying the low specced version is reduntant as it won't play most games, unless you just want the nice looking notebook for "normal" computing... or are planning to upgrade it yourself like "Atol" is doing?

OB

 

well tbh i got pretty close to a quick ship edition... and when i was ordering mine was shipping faster than the quick ship edition i just have an upgraded CPU and HDD space... and well i am upgrading the T8300 to a X9000 by myself figured how to do everything just hope everything goes well... mine shipped in about 5 days and the "quick ship" est. shipping address was for somewhere in august

 

Well after waiting since the 22nd July i'm still in phase 4...

I now know that the first delay was caused byt the system being as little dimm, my order was being delayed because of the mug being out of stock... Why this affects a notebook being built i'm not sure but after two phone calls it's now in back order and the notebook should be being processed.

I contacted Sean today and was told that all of the parts for my notebook are in stock and that i now am a prioiry case...

I later recieved an email from Sean telling me that although all of the parts are in stock, some of them are now being tested and this is delaying my order. As soon as the testing is finished i'll move to phase 5 and then intheory have my m17x in four working days...

I don't know what is being tested but, i'll admit i'd rather have tested parts than parts go wrong!

Ho Hum (",)

OB

 

i hate getting back ordered. My order went through fine but it was so bad that i have to give it back. hope you get a good one. Maybe you should check on ebay, refurb systems are good there and better specs for less money.

can't hurt...

 

i wont really buy a refurb system from ebay. you wont get warranty and you dont know what the other person did with the computer. i would rather just pay a bit more for a new comp then take a risk with someone else's comp.

 

you do get a warranty if you buy one with a warranty, and they are usually in good condition.

 

AW warranties are not transferable though

 

well Dell's are, or if you buy from a refurb reseller then you get a warranty.

 

yea i second what exiled said and even if there is a warranty you dont know how the computer was treated such as if they spilled something or if someone eats while they use the laptops crumbs inside the system... stuff liek that can always be annoying and a little extra to get a new one is always good...what i say is if your gonna do it do it right the first time dont waste your money on a refurb and then wonder what happened and blah blah get a new laptop pretty cheap dont wanna buy a AW dont buy a gateway FX pretty cheap and affordable newor go with sager also a cheap alternative i just tend to stay away from refurbs systems for ANYTHING expensive and if its a refurb from the manufacturer the reason why they are selling it is because it came back to them and there was something wrong with it and they made it work and are selling it onwards to make a little money off of it rather than just trashing it

 

for the prices they are cheap brand new systems on ebay. (ish)

my cousin got a 4600 dollar dell for 3100 and it works fine. no spills or crumbs.

 

well i dont recommend buying the system off ebay. a dell refurb is fine since they usually come to you in good condition and have warranty too so its almost like new.